A Summary of the Gospel from Ephesians 2:4-10

As I wrapped up our time in Ephesians 2:4-10 last week, I was tempted to reiterate all ten aspects of the gospel that we see there. But I thought it best to present them here rather than just read them to you, so without further ado, here are the ten aspects:

1. God is super-abundant in mercy and therefore the gospel began in the heart of God (v. 4). “But God, being rich in mercy…”
2. God conceived the gospel in all its parts, with all its implications, and sovereignly chose to direct his love at the elect (v. 4). “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us…”
3. God prepared good works before the foundation of the world that those who would be made alive in Christ should walk in them (v. 10). “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
4. God sent his Son to live a righteous life, die a real death, be raised from death and seated again at the right hand of God in the heavenly places (v. 5). I get this by implication from the end of verse 5 which says, “even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ…”
5. God caused us to believe in Christ by grace through faith (vv. 8-9; Titus 3:4-7; 1 Pet 1:3). “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
6. God made us alive together with Christ (v. 5; Rom. 6:4).
7. God raised us up with Christ (v. 6; Col. 3:1-4).
8. God seated us with Christ in the heavenly places (v. 6). “…even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…”
9. God wills that we should walk in the good works for which he created us in Christ (v. 10; Titus; Heb 4:14-16; Jude 1:20-21). “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
10. God did all of this so that he might display the glory of his grace in Christ (v. 7; Rom 15:9). “…so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus…”

Cherishing the gospel with you,
Pastor Charlie